Photo Flash: First Look at JERSEY BOYS in Manila; Show Runs Thru Oct. 16

Photos by Jaime Unson, Manman Angsico

Manila, Philippines--Together with Metrobank Card Corporation, Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group's (ATEG) production of Broadway and West End smash musical JERSEY BOYS "opened to a thunderous standing ovation on Friday [Sept. 23] at the Meralco Theatre.

"JERSEY BOYS is fashioned like a behind-the-scenes documentary, using the four seasons--winter, spring, summer, fall--as a device to neatly tell the story of the group's rise and fall--and subsequent rise." -ABS-CBNNews.com

Leading its stellar cast are acoustic balladeer Nyoy Volante (Frankie Valli), Asian Pop Superstar Christian Bautista (Bob Gaudio), "The Voice" finalist Nino Alejandro (Nick Massi), and singer-actor Markki Stroem (Tommy DeVito).

Jamie Wilson, Bibo Reyes, Nelsito Gomez, Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, Yanah Laurel, Giannina Ocampo-Van Hoven, Altair Alonso, Steven Conde, Rhenwyn Gabalonzo, Emeline Carmela Guinid, Kendrick Ibasco, Gab Medina, and Timmy Pavino round out the cast.

Directed by Bobby Garcia, JERSEY BOYS features music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.

Considered as America's most popular singing group before The Beatles, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, alongside The Beach Boys, Motown, and Memphis soul, fought their way to the top of the music charts even during the phenomenal "Beatlemania," The Rolling Stones, and British Invasion in the mid-60s. In 1990, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for selling over 100 million records worldwide.

The band's most popular songs, which feature Valli's trademark three-octave range and falsetto and the band's distinctive doo-wop sound, include "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Sherry," "Walk Like A Man," "Working My Way Back to You," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "My Eyes Adored You," and "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)."

Now in its 11th year on Broadway, JERSEY BOYS officially opened at the August Wilson Theatre on November 6, 2005. In 2006, the show won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (John Lloyd Young), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Christian Hoff), and Best Lighting Design (Howell Binkley). It also won Best New Musical at the 2008 Olivier Awards in London and Best Show Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards.

The Manila production features scenic design by Faust Peneyra, lighting design by Driscoll Otto, sound design by Justin Stasiw, costume design by Edwin Tan, choreography by Cecile Martinez, musical direction by Ceejay Javier, vocal direction by Manman Angsico, projection design by GA Fallarme, and hair and makeup by Johann Dela Fuente.

JERSEY BOYS plays Meralco Theatre in Pasig City until Sunday, October 16. For tickets, call Ticketworld at (632) 891-9999 or visit TicketWorld.com.ph.

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